“In psychology we call this activation of a feeling ‘emotional regulation’,” he explains. “By watching horror films one can have a sense of control over both the situation, or the viewing experience, and over the feeling of fear.

“Watching a scary film may possibly also function as a distraction from other feelings.”

It makes sense, to be honest. And it’s more than enough reason for us all to sit down and watch the “scariest ever” horror movie, which recently landed on Netflix.

Don’t Breathe – which has achieved worldwide fame thanks to the fact that movie critics found it difficult watching it through to the end – tells the story of three friends as they try to rob a wealthy blind man.

However, things quickly take a turn for the sinister when they find themselves locked in his house.

“Rocky, a young woman wanting to start a better life for her and her sister, agrees to take part in the robbery of a house owned by a wealthy blind man with her boyfriend Money and their friend Alex,” reads the synopsis.

“But when the blind man turns out to be a more ruthless adversary than he seems, the group must find a way to escape his home before they become his latest victims.”

Watch the trailer for yourself below:

Hmm. How wide can you make your eyes go?

Unlike the supernatural horrors that have made headlines this year (think Veronicaand Hereditary), this film is rooted in the here and now – and all adversaries are very much human. As the trailer demonstrates all too clearly, though, this doesn’t make them any less powerful or terrifying. Quite the opposite, in fact (we’re now giving every single stranger we come across an extra hard stare, just to be safe).

The movie was directed by Fede Alvarez, who co-wrote it with his Evil Dead collaborator, Rodo Sayagues – and it has proven to be such a success (think 88% on Rotten Tomatoes) that a sequel is already in the pipeline.

All in all, it sounds like essential viewing this weekend. You know, if only to “test our personal and collective limits in a safe environment”…

Don’t Breathe is available to view now on Netflix UK. Based on the trailer alone, we recommend catching up on your slumber before you got see it: we have a feeling you’ll be facing many sleepless nights once the credits roll.

Image: Sony Entertainment

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Kayleigh Dray

Kayleigh Dray is editor of Stylist.co.uk, where she chases after rogue apostrophes and specialises in films, comic books, feminism and television. On a weekend, you can usually find her drinking copious amounts of tea and playing boardgames with her friends.